p&c.brimstone-第86部分

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　〃Ecco；〃said　the　count；　stopping　before　a　low　doorway。　Fabbri　stopped　in　turn；　and　Pendergast；　his　eyes　on　the　ground；　clumsily　stumbled　into　him　from　behind。　Fabbri　cursed　and　pushed　him　away；　sending　the　agent　sprawling　to　the　stone　floor。　
　〃Get　in；〃　said　the　count。　
　Pendergast　rose　to　his　feet　and　ducked　into　the　tiny　room　beyond　the　doorway。　D'Agosta　followed。　The　iron　door　slammed；　the　metal　key　turned；　and　they　were　in　darkness。　
　The　count's　face　appeared　at　the　small　grating　set　into　the　door。　
　〃You'll　be　secure　here；〃　he　said；　〃while　I　attend　to　a　few　final　details。　And　then　I　will　be　back。　You　see；　I　have　prepared　something　special；　somethingfitting　；　for　you　both。　For　Pendergast；　a　literary　end…something　out　of　Poe；　actually。　And　for　D'Agosta；　murderer　of　my　Pinchetti；　I　will　use　my　microwave　device　one　more　time　before　destroying　it；　and　with　it　the　last　evidence　of　my　involvement　in　this　affair。〃　
　The　face　vanished。　A　moment　later；　the　faint　illumination　of　the　corridor　was　extinguished。　
　D'Agosta　sat　in　the　dark；　listening　to　the　echo　of　retreating　footsteps。　In　a　moment；　all　was　silent　save　for　the　faint　dripping　of　water　and　the　flutter　of　what　D'Agosta　thought　must　be　bats。　
　He　shifted；　pulled　his　torn　clothes　more　tightly　around　him。　Pendergast's　voice　came　to　him　through　the　darkness；　so　low　as　to　be　almost　inaudible。　
　〃I　don't　see　any　reason　to　delay　our　departure。　Do　you？〃　
　〃Was　that　a　lockpick　I　saw　you　hiding　under　Fabbri's　collar？〃　D'Agosta　whispered。　
　〃Of　course。　Most　obliging　of　him　to　carry　it　for　me。　Naturally；　I　stumbled　into　him　just　now　in　order　to　reclaim　it。　And　now　I　have　little　doubt　that　Fabbri　or　one　of　the　others　is　outside；　guarding　us。　Bang　on　the　door；　Vincent；　and　see　if　you　can't　get　a　response　from　him。〃　
　D'Agosta　banged　and　shouted：　〃Hey！　Let　us　out！Let　us　out！　〃　
　The　echoes　slowly　died　away　in　the　corridor　beyond。　
　Pendergast　touched　D'Agosta's　arm　and　whispered　again。　〃Keep　making　noise　while　I　pick　the　lock。〃　
　D'Agosta　shouted；　yelled；　and　swore。　A　minute　later；　Pendergast　touched　his　arm　once　again。　
　〃Done。　Now　listen。　The　man　waiting　in　the　dark　no　doubt　has　an　electric　torch；　which　he'll　turn　on　at　the　slightest　indication　of　funny　business。　I'm　going　to　find　him　and　take　care　of　him。　You　keep　making　noise　as　a　diversion；　and　to　cover　any　sounds　of　my　crawling　through　the　dark。〃　
　〃Okay。〃　
　D'Agosta　once　again　took　up　the　cry；　stomping　around　and　demanding　to　be　let　out。　It　was　pitch…black；　and　he　could　see　nothing　of　what　Pendergast　was　doing。　He　yelled　and　yelled。　Suddenly　there　was　a　loud　thump　outside；　followed　by　a　thud。　Then　a　beam　of　light　stabbed　through　the　low　opening。　
　〃Excellent　work；　Vincent。〃　
　D'Agosta　ducked　back　out　beneath　the　low　doorway。　There；　about　twenty　feet　away；　was　Fabbri；　facedown　on　the　stone　floor；　arms　flung　wide。　
　〃Are　you　sure　there's　a　way　out　of　this　pile？〃　D'Agosta　asked。　
　〃You　heard　the　squeaking　of　bats。　Right？〃　
　〃Right。〃　
　〃There　must　be　a　way　out。〃　
　〃Yeah；　for　a　bat。〃　
　〃Where　bats　fly；　so　shall　we。　But　first　we　must　get　our　hands　on　the　machine。　It's　our　only　real　evidence　against　the　count。〃　
　　　
　81　
　
　They　made　their　way　back　through　the　dark　stonework　of　thestorage　cellars　and　furtively　climbed　the　ancient　stairway　to　the　pantry。　Pendergast　checked　the　room　carefully；　then　motioned　D'Agosta　forward。　Slowly；　they　moved　from　the　pantry　to　the　kitchen：　a　huge　room　with　parallel　tables　of　oiled　pine　and　marble；　and　a　massive　fireplace　replete　with　grills　and　racks。　Cast…iron　cookware　hung　on　great　hooks　and　chains　from　the　ceiling。　No　sounds　issued　from　the　diningsalotto　beyond。　All　appeared　deserted。　
　〃When　Pinketts　retrieved　the　weapon；〃　whispered　Pendergast；　〃he　came　through　this　kitchen；　and　was　gone　no　more　than　a　minute。　It　has　to　be　close。〃　
　〃Why　would　it　still　be　in　the　same　place？〃　
　〃Remember　what　Fosco　said。　He's　planning　to　use　it　once　more…on　you。　Other　than　the　dining　area；　there　are　only　two　ways　out　of　this　room。　The　pantry　we　just　came　through；　andthat　。〃　He　pointed　to　a　door　leading　into　what　looked　like　an　old　meat　locker。　
　At　that　moment；　footsteps　sounded　from　beyond　the　dining　room。　They　flattened　themselves　behind　the　door　of　the　kitchen。　Voices　spoke　in　Italian；　too　indistinct　to　make　out；　but　approaching。　
　〃Let's　keep　looking；〃　Pendergast　said　after　a　moment。　〃Any　moment　now　the　alarm　might　be　raised。〃　
　He　ducked　into　the　meat　locker：　a　cool　stone　room　hung　with　prosciutti　and　salami；　shelves　groaning　under　the　weight　of　massive　wheels　of　aging　cheeses。　Pendergast　shone　Fabbri's　torch　around　the　crowded　space。　There　was　a　gleam　of　aluminum　on　one　of　the　upper　shelves。　
　〃There！〃　D'Agosta　grabbed　the　case。　
　〃Too　bulky；〃　Pendergast　said。　〃Get　rid　of　the　case　and　let's　assemble　the　weapon。〃　
　They　opened　the　case；　and…with　a　little　difficulty…Pendergast　screwed　together　the　various　parts。　He　handed　it　to　D'Agosta；　who　slung　it　over　his　shoulder　by　its　attached　leather　strap。　Then　they　hurried　back　into　the　kitchen。　More　voices；　this　time　from　the　dining　room　itself。　Then　the　hiss　of　a　radio。　A　voice　rasped　out；　loud；　full　of　panic。　
　〃Sono　scappati！〃　
　A　flurry　of　activity；　followed　by　retreating　footsteps。　
　〃They've　got　radios；〃　Pendergast　murmured。　He　paused　only　another　moment。　Then　he　dashed　back　through　the　kitchen　and　across　the　dining　room；　D'Agosta　following；　weapon　bouncing　on　his　shoulder。　They　ran　out　into　the　central　gallery；　past　the　age…darkened　portraits　and　luxurious　tapestries。　
　Dim　voices　could　be　heard　ahead。　
　〃This　way；〃　Pendergast　said；　nodding　toward　a　small　open　door。　They　ran　through　it　to　find　themselves　in　an　old　armory。　Rusted　swords；　armor；　and　chain　mail　hung　from　the　walls。　Without　a　word；　Pendergast　took　down　a　sword；　examined　it；　put　it　back；　took　down　another。　
　The　voices　grew　louder。　And　then　a　group　of　men　passed　by　the　doorway；　running　at　top　speed　toward　the　dining　room　and　the　kitchen。　
　Pendergast　peered　out；　and　then　motioned　to　D'Agosta。　
　They　continued　down　the　gallery；　then　veered　away　through　a　maze　of　elegant　chambers；　arriving　at　last　in　the　small；　damp；　windowless　rooms　surrounding　the　old　keep。　D'Agosta　heard　no　footsteps　but　their　own。　It　seemed　they　were　temporarily　in　luck：　nobody　expected　they'd　head　for　the　heart　of　the　castle　instead　of　making　toward　the　outer　walls。　
　No　sooner　had　this　thought　occurred　to　him　than　he　heard　a　voice　ahead；　talking　furiously。　He　looked　around。　There　was　no　place　to　hide　in　this　series　of　bare　stone　rooms。　
　Pendergast　swiftly　got　behind　the　door；　D'Agosta　crouching　at　his　back。　A　man　appeared　in　the　doorway；　jogging；　radio　in　hand。　Pendergast　raised　his　sword　with　one　swift　motion；　the　man　grunted；　then　sprawled　forward　onto　the　floor；　run　through；　blood　running　out　over　the　paving　stones。　
　In　an　instant；　Pendergast　had　retrieved　the　man's　handgun；　a　9mm　Beretta。　He　handed　the　sword　to　D'Agosta　and　gestured　for　him　to　follow。　
　Ahead　yawned　the　entrance　to　a　circular　staircase；　leading　down　into　darkness。　They　began　flying　down　the　steps；　two　at　a　time。　Then　Pendergast　raised　his　hand。　
　Footsteps　rang　faintly　from　below。　Someone　was　running　up　toward　them。　
　〃How　many　thugs　does　the　fat　fuck　employ？〃　D'Agosta　muttered。　
　〃As　many　as　he　wants；　I　imagine。　Stay　still。　We　have　the　advantage　of　surprise　and　altitude。〃　And　Pendergast　aimed　the　gun　carefully　down　the　curve　of　the　stairs。　Moments　later；　a　man　in　peasant　dress　appeared。　Pendergast　fired　without　hesitation；　then　knelt　beside　the　crumpled　form；　retrieved　his　weapon；　and　tossed　it　to　D'Agosta。　
　A　second　man　was　shouting　up　from　below。〃Carlo！　Cosa　c'è？〃　
　Pendergast　darted　down　the　stairs；　tattered　suit　flapping　behind　him；　and…leaping　toward　the　second　man…sent　him　sprawling　backward　with　a　kick　to　the　head。　He　landed　lightly；　paused　to　pluck　the　man's　gun　from　his　hand；　and　thrust　it　into　the　waistband　of　his　trousers。　
　They　ran　down　the　dank　corridor　leading　away　from　the　staircase。　Behind　them；　D'Agosta　could　hear　shouts　and　cries。　Pendergast　switched　off　the　flashlight　to　make　them　less　of　a　target；　and　they　continued　forward　in　almost　plete　darkness。　
　Ahead；　the　tunnel　divided。　Pendergast　stopped；　examined　the　ground；　the　ceiling。　
　〃Note　the　guano？　The　bats　fly　out　this　way。〃　
　They　took　the　left…hand　tunnel。　Now　a　faint　light　appeared　in　the　distance　behind　them。　A　shot　rang　out；　whining　off　stone。　D'Agosta　stopped　to　return　fire。　Their　pursuers　hung　back。　
　〃What　about　the　microwave　weapon？〃　he　asked。　
　〃Useless　in　this　situation。　Takes　too　long　to　operate；　doesn't　have　the　range。　Besides；　we　don't　have　the　time　now　to　figure　out　how　to　use　it。〃　
　The　tunnel　branched　again。　D'Agosta　smelled　fresh　air　ahead；　then　caught　a　faint　glow　of　light。　They　ran　around　another　corner；　then　another…and　suddenly　came　up　against　a　thick　grate　of　iron　bars；　bright　light　streaming　in　between　them。　D'Agosta　could　see　that　the　grate　opened　onto　the　cliff　below　the　castle。　Beyond；　he　could　make　out　the　steep　flanks　of　the　mountain；　to　the　left　plunging　into　a　deep　ravine　and　to　the　right　rising　to　pinnacles　and　crags。　
　〃Shit。〃　
　〃I　expected　something　like　this；〃　said　Pendergast。　He　swiftly　examined　the　bars。　〃Ancient；　but　sound。〃　
　〃What　now？〃　
　〃We　make　a　stand。　I'm　counting　on　that　shooting　ability　of　yours；　Vincent。〃　
　Pendergast　flattened　himself　against　the　last　angle　of　the　tunnel；　and　D'Agosta　did　the　same。　The　men　were　ing　up　faster　now…judging　by　the　footsteps；　there　were　at　least　half　a　dozen　of　them。　D'Agosta　turned；　aimed；　squeezed　off　a　shot。　In　the　dimness；　he　saw　one　of　the　figures　fall。　The　rest　scattered；　flattening　themselves　against　the　rough　rock　walls。　There　was　an　answering　blast　of　a　shotgun。　This　was　followed　by　the　fast　stutter　of　an　automatic　weapon：　two　short　bursts；　the　bullets　caroming　off　the　ceiling　in　showers　of　sparks　and　stone。　
　〃Shit！〃　D'Agosta　said；　shrinking　back　involuntarily。　
　〃Keep　holding　them；　Vincent；　while　I　see　what　I　can　do　about　these　bars。〃　
　D'Agosta　crouched　low；　ducked　briefly　around　the　corner；　fired。　The　automatic　weapon　returned　fire；　the　bullets　once　again　ricocheting　of